Hardware loads and power consumption in cloud computing environments

This paper describes an optimised and novel approach to an Autonomous Virtual Server Management System in a `Cloud Computing' environment and it presents a set of preliminary test results. One key advantage of this system is its ability to improve hardware power consumption through autonomously moving virtual servers around a network to balance out hardware loads. This has a potentially important impact on issues of sustainability with respect to both energy efficiency and economic viability. Another key advantage is the improvement of the overall end-user experience for services within the Cloud. This has been investigated through the configuration of a cloud-computing test-bed rig. The key features of this rig and some predictions of what may be achieved with it are described and evaluated.